Companies Fret Over Uncertain Outlook

By

Scott Thurm

Feb. 10, 2013 8:31 p.m. ET

Sensing better times ahead, investors have pushed the Dow Jones Industrial Average up this year near its record high. But a different mood is pervading U.S. companies, where executives are less optimistic about the global economy and their own prospects, and many are lowering financial forecasts.

Fourth-quarter operating earnings topped diminished expectations, rising 7.3% at the 339 members of the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index that have reported results, while revenue rose 5.9%, according to Thomson Reuters....